It was as if Warriors head coach Mark Jackson knew what was about to happen.

"We are a very good basketball team that is ... led by two All-Stars," Jackson said late Wednesday night. "Whether anyone wants to acknowledge it or not, we're claiming ... that."

About 17 hours later, the Western Conference coaches acknowledged that David Lee is indeed an All-Star - naming the Warriors' forward one of seven reserves to the team Thursday afternoon - but snubbed Golden State point guard Stephen Curry.

"I'm really excited to make it, but it's really bittersweet," Lee said in a conference call. "Steph and I have been the leaders of this team all year long. ... I really wanted him to be a part of this."

Lee is the first Warriors' player selected to the All-Star Game since Latrell Sprewell in 1997. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 19.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 37.6 minutes in 40 games this season, while shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 79.9 percent from the free-throw line.

He leads the league with 17 games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, is second in double-doubles (26), eighth in rebounds, 12th in scoring, 13th in minutes and 18th in field-goal percentage.

Lee was selected as an Eastern Conference injury replacement while playing for New York in 2010. Instead of celebrating his second All-Star selection, he was left listening to analysts wondering how Curry's play got ignored.

The seven reserves for each conference were announced on TNT's "NBA Tip-Off," and Curry's snubbing created outrage on the set.

"For Steph Curry not to make that team is a flat-out joke," Charles Barkley said.

"Steph Curry should've made it," Shaquille O'Neal said. "The question is: Will he get upset and raise his game to a new level?"

Curry, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook are the only players in the league averaging at least 20 points, six assists and four rebounds. The Warriors guard is third in the NBA in three-point shooting, eighth in scoring and 13th in assists.

The point guard is fourth in the league in scoring in the final five minutes of games that are within five points. He's led the Warriors to a 16-5 record in those situations.

Curry is probably the first alternate to the squad and could be named an injury replacement. He said this week that he would most likely skip the skills challenge but was still considering participating in the three-point shootout if he didn't get the All-Star nod.

"We know who the jurors are," Jackson said, referring to the Western Conference's head coaches. "I think you have to question the process. I'm not going to go all Dr. King on us, but you've got to stand for what's right, man. These guys have changed this whole organization. They have led. They have sacrificed. They have defended. They have competed."